Perhaps you are wondering, what about the people I don’t like?  For example, what about the person who has hurt my soul and left scars in their wake?  Or those that might try to take my stuff?  What about those world powers that threaten our way of existence?  These, among countless other questions, certainly arise in this economy of love that God has suggested.

Martin Luther King, Jr was known for his passive resistance to the injustice of his time.  Based solely on the color of skin, he fought to show the way of Christ and the love of God by standing firm against those that would oppress, while never using violence to achieve his goal.  He was known for amazing quotes to help us gain a glimpse of this love enacted…

Love is the only force capable of turning an enemy into a friend.

I have decided to stick with love.  Hate is too great a burden to bear.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

While another movement was afoot, which resorted to the use of violence, his faith in God and the theology of love taught him that love is the most transformative tool we have in the world.  And love is always a choice!  We choose to love others rather than vilify or diminish. The scriptures that he read reverberated with the theology of love when Jesus dared to say, Love your enemies!  Turn your cheek!

While some might say that MLK, Jr didn’t accomplish his mission in his lifetime, we are fully aware of the impact he has made.  He created a ripple to the degree that a man was elected to the highest office of our land which would have been impossible without people shining the light of love.  As he was fond of quoting Rev. Theodore Parker, The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice. We must continue to thrive in creating a culture of love as each successive generation sees the bending toward justice and wholeness where love can be fully realized!